Mechanism for feeding primers in hand loading of ammunition



T. FRATILA 3,152,508

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING PRIMERS IN HAND LOADING OF AMMUNITION Oct. 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1962 INVENTOR 7Z7774s fizz zfit BY I 33% ZZQ. A i/q MECHANISM FOR FEEDING PRIMERS IN HAND LOADING OF AMMUNITION Filed Sept. 28, 1962 2 SheetsP-Sheet l 7%677145 fizzy/4 14 a 4; BY

,1 I J0 41 A4 United States Patent 3,152,508 MECHANISM FOR FEEDING PRIMERS IN HAND LOADING 0F AMMUNITION Thomas Fratila, 3683 3 Mile Drive, Detroit 24, Mich. Filed Sept. 28, 1962, er. No. 227 ,015 8 Claims. (Cl. 86-38) This invention relates to dispensers and more particularly to primer feed mechanisms.

One step in the hand loading of a shell includes inserting a primer in the base thereof usually by means of a reloading press having a primer arm assembly for holding the primer in place as it is being inserted into the shell. Such primers are of a relatively small size and are, therefore, difficult to handle. Accordingly, it is desirable to have primer feed means associated with the primer arm assembly for automatically placing primers on the primer arm assembly prior to their insertion into the shell.

Preferably, such primer feed means should include means for storing a relatively large number of primers and means for smoothly dispensing the primers therefrom into operative relationship with a primer arm assembly or the like.

Important objects of the present invention, therefore, are to improve mechanisms for dispensing primers or other small objects; to improve such mechanisms by providing a large capacity magazine operatively associated with improved means for smoothly feeding primers therefrom; and to provide a large capacity magazine for holding standard primer storage cartons and means operatively associated with such a large capacity magazine for selectively dispensing one or more of a plurality of primers therefrom.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide an economical, large capacity primer feed mechanism of few parts for association with a standard reloading press including a primer arm assembly.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of a primer feed mechanism constructed in accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention operatively associated with a C-frame type shell reloading press;

FIGURE 2 is a view in front elevation of the primer feed mechanism of FIGURE 1 with portions thereon being sectioned;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view in horizontal section similar to FIGURE 5 showing certain elements of the primer feed mechanism of FIGURES 1 through 5 in their dispensing positions;

FIGURE 7 is a view in front elevation of a further embodiment of a primer feed mechanism constructed in accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a view in elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in FIGURE 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a view in vertical section taken along the line ltl-10 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 11 is a view in vertical section similar to FIG- URE 10 showing certain elements of the primer feed mechanism of FIGURES 7 through 10 in their dispensing positions.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment of the primer feed mechanism of the present invention representatively associated with a C-frame type reloading press 10 comprising a pair of spaced legs 12, 14 on the upper end of an offset frame section 15 having its opposite end connected to a vertically directed cylinder 16 with a piston 18 slidably mounted therein. A cam follower 20 connected on one end of the piston 18 is operatively associated with a cam surface 22 formed on one end of a lever 24 that is pivotally connected by means of a pin 26 to the lower end of the cylinder 16 for raising and lowering the piston 18.

In the illustrated arrangement, the reloading press 10 further includes a standard reloading die 23 threaded into the upper end thereof adjacent the spaced legs 12, 14 and a primer arm assembly 30 having a pin 32 directed through a cup element 34 in slidable relationship therewith for ejecting a primer supported in the cup 34. The cup 34 is held against a flange 36 on the end of the pin 32 by means of a spring 37 in surrounding relationship therewith, best shown in FIGURE 2. The opposite end of the pin 32 is connected to an arm 38 having the lower end thereof connected to the cylinder 16 of the reloading press It by a pivot structure 46 for movement relative to a longitudinally extending slot 41 in the upper end of one side of the piston 18. Additionally, the piston 18 of the reloading press llil has a shell holder 42 connected on the upper end thereof for securing a shell with respect to the die 28 and the primer arm assembly 30. The press It and primer arm assembly 36 are operated in a conventional fashion to carry out the normal hand loading steps well known to those skilled in the art.

The embodiment of the primer feed mechanism illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 comprises a magazine 44 and a primer dispenser 46 supported relative to the primer arm assembly 36 on the reloading press 10 by suitable means representatively illustrated as including a support bracket 48 interconnected to the spaced legs 12, 14 on the upper end of the reloading press 10 by pins 49, 50.

The outer shell 52 of the magazine 44 is representatively shown as having the general shape of a standard rectangular primer storage container with the front face 54 thereof connected to a slidably movable magazine retainer element 56 of the primer dispenser 46 by suitable fastening means, representatively illustrated as screws 58. The magazine retainer 56 has an inclined face 60 located in sliding engagement with the inner face 62 of a holder 64 having a downwardly directed leg 65 thereon spaced outwardly of the face 60. The holder 64 is rigidly connected to the support bracket 48 and is coupled to the retainer 56 by means of a rod 66 directed through the retainer 56 and the holder 64.

Furthermore, the outer shell 52 of the magazine 44 is open ended so that a commercially packaged carton of primer caps of the type including an outer box 68 can be inserted through the upper open end of the shell 52 until the lower end of the box 68 engages a stop 70 directed inwardly of the shell 52 from the front face 54 thereof. A primer support 72 comprising a base 74 having a plurality of dividers 76 directed outwardly thereof to form a plurality of spaced recesses 78 for holding a predetermined number of primers 80 in a single row is slidably mounted within the box 68 which has an end flap 81 thereon bent open, as best shown in FIGURE 3, to allow movement of the primer support '72 outwardly of the box 68. An opening 83 is formed in the forward side of the box 68 adjacent the end flap 81 thereof. A suitable tool (not shown) can be inserted through an aperture 32 in the side wall 84 of the shell 52 into engagement with one of the dividers 76 to move the primer support 72 downwardly in the box 63 until one of the recesses 78 therein is aligned with the opening 83 in the box 68 and an aperture 86 in the front face 54 of the outer shell 52 as indicated by the indexing action of the dividers 76 and aperture 32.

The primer support 72 is held in alignment with the aperture 86 by a leaf spring 38 having opposite ends thereof secured to a rear face 90 of the shell 52 and a bowed mid-portion located within the shell 52 in engagement with one side of the box 68 for biasing it toward the front face 54 of the outer shell 52. The biasing action of the leaf spring 88 will hold the primer support 72 relative to the aperture 86 once it has been aligned therewith but will not prevent manual moving of the support by inserting a tool through the aperture 82 as discussed above.

Once one of the recesses 78 in the primer support has been aligned with the aperture 86 in the front face 54 of the magazine shell 52, the row of primers 80 therein will be inclined at the slope of the inclined face 60 on the magazine retainer 56 which, preferably, is sufficient to overcome frictional forces between the primers 80 and primer support 72 so that the primers 80 will slide from the support 72, through the aperture 86 in the front face 54, and thence through an opening 92 through the upper end of the retainer 56 and thence into a recess 94 formed in the inner face 62 of the holder 64 where one of the primers 80 is supported by the upper surface of the rod 66 as best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5.

To dispense the primer 80 supported within the slot 94 in the holder 64 therefrom, the primer arm assembly 30 is moved between the leg 65 of the holder 64 and the inclined face 60 of the retainer 56 until the primer cup thereon engages a lip 95 directed downwardly on one end of the rod 66. The rod 66 is slidably mounted within the holder 64 and has the opposite end thereof connected to the magazine retainer 56 by means of a pin 96 having one end thereof directed through the top of the retainer 56 into engagement with the rod 66 and the opposite end thereof connected to a return spring 98 secured to the bracket 48. Accordingly, movement of the primer arm cup 34 against the lip 95 will cause the retainer 56 to move against the force of the spring 98 from the position illustrated in FIGURE where the rod 66 supports one of the primers 80 within the recess 94 of the holder 64, to a position, illustrated in FIGURE 6, where the inner face 62 of the holder 64 will block the opening 92 in the retainer 56 and an inner edge 100 of the holder 64 will move the primer 80 located in the recess 94 thereof off the support rod 66 so that it will fall into the primer arm cup 34. Once the primer arm assembly 30 is moved away from the rod 66 into operative relationship with the reloading press 10, the magazine retainer 56 is moved toward the holder 64 by the return spring 98 until the opening 92 therein is again in alignment with the recess 94 of the holder 64 at which time a primer within the opening 92 in the retainer 56 will slide outwardly therefrom into the recess 94 where it will be supported by the rod 66 until dispensed as discussed above.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 may be readily adapted to shell reloading presses of a type other than the illustrated C-frarne type press by modifying the support bracket 48 thereof. In any case, the illustrated structure enables a large number of primers to be quickly and smoothly dispensed into the primer arm assembly of a reloading press.

The gravity feed arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 is preferred by means can be provided in association with the magazine for positively ejecting primers therefrom. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 11, a magazine 102 is operatively associated with a primer dispenser 103 including a holder 104 connected to the front face of the magazine 102 by fastening means representatively illustrated as screws 106. The holder 104 includes a support bracket 108 adapted to be connected to a fixed support on a reloading press or the like.

An open ended outer shell 109 of the magazine 102 has leaf springs 110, 111 secured on the rear face 112 and one side wall 114 thereof, respectively, both of which include a bowed mid-portion located within the shell 109 for holding a primer support 116, having the same characteristics as the primer container 72 illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 6, against the front face 118 and opposite side wall 120 of the outer shell 109.

When the primer support 116 is initially inserted into the upper open end of the outer shell 109, an elongated arm 122 pivotally secured by means of a screw 124 on the wall 120 is moved about the screw 124 against the force of a return spring 126 connected between a post 127 directed outwardly of one end of the elongated arm 122 and a post 128 secured to the outer shell 109 to move a pin or finger slidably supported in a slot 129 in the opposite end of the arm 122 toward the rear face 112 of the outer shell 109.

The end of the finger 130 is slidably disposed in a slot 132 formed in and directed transversely of the lower end of the side wall 120 and is directed inwardly of the shell 109 so that when the first row of primers is in alignment with the slot 132 the spring 126 acts through the arm 122 and finger 130 to force one of a plurality of axially abutting primers 134 aligned with the slot 132 outwardly through an aperture 136 in the front face 118 and into a recess 138 located in an inner face 140 of the holder 104. The primer is supported in the recess 138 by a rod 142 directed through the holder 104 in slidable relationship therewith. The rod 142 is held inwardly of the holder 104 by means of an elongated spring arm 146 having one end thereof connected to the top of holder 104 by suitable means such as a screw 147 and the opposite end thereof engaging a slotted end 148 on the rod 142.

To dispense the primer 134 supported in the recess 138 from the holder 104, a primer arm assembly or the like is moved until a primer arm cup 150 thereon engages the inner end of the rod 142 to force it outwardly of the holder 104 until the primer in the recess 138 is no longer supported thereby as best shown in FIGURE 11. As the dispensing rod 142 is moved from its primer supporting position (best illustrated in FIGURE 10) to the position illustrated in FIGURE 11, a relatively thin separator plate 152 secured on the inner end of the rod 142 passes between the front face 118 of the magazine shell 109 and the inner face 140 of the holder 104 to prevent the spring force acting on the finger 130 from acting against the primer supported within the recess 138. Accordingly, the primer freely falls therefrom into the primer arm cup 150 when the rod 142 is moved into the position illustrated in FIGURE 11.

In addition to relieving the spring force acting on the primer 134 supported within the holder recess 138, the separator plate 152 prevents the primer located adjacent thereto from jamming between the magazine 102 and the holder 104 during relative movement therebetween.

When the primer arm assembly is moved into operative relationship with the reloading press (not illustrated) the spring arm 146 forces the support rod 142 toward the holder 104 to move the separator plate 152 away from the aperture 136 in the front face 118 of the shell 109 and back to its original position so that the next adjacent primer in the magazine can be pushed by the finger 130, into the recess 138 in the holder 104 where it is supported on top of the support rod 142.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent to those familiar with dispensing mechanisms, and while it will be apparent that the embodiments of the present invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having means therein for dispensing a plurality of primers therefrom, a primer holder slidable in said magazine for selectively receiving a primer therefrom, a primer support rod for supporting the primer within said holder, and a primer cup movable with a primer arm assembly on the shell reloading press and engageable with said primer support rod for removing a primer from said holder, said primer support rod being movable relative to said holder and adapted to concurrently prevent the flow of primers from said magazine to said holder while a primer is being dispensed from said holder.

2. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having means therein for feeding a plurality of primers therefrom, a holder operatively associated with said magazine and adapted to selectively receive individual primers therefrom, means for supporting the primer within said holder, dispensing means including said primer support means adapted to be operatively associated with a primer arm assembly on the shell reloading press for dispensing a primer from said holder, and support means including a rod for supporting a primer in said holder, said rod being movable relative to said holder to allow the dispensing of individual primers therefrom and provided with a separator plate movable therewith between said holder and said magazine for concurrently blocking communication therebetween when said rod is positioned to dispense a primer from said holder and means for repositioning said support means into a primer supporting position following dispensing of a primer from said holder.

3. A primer feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for repositioning said support means into a primer supporting position includes a spring interconnecting said holder and said support means.

4. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having an open ended outer shell, support means disposed within said shell for supporting a commercially packaged primer carton having a plurality of spaced rows of primers therein, means operatively associated with said magazine for feeding primers therefrom including means for progressively biasing each of the spaced rows of primers in the primer carton for the selective positioning of the individual primers therein, a holder operatively associated with said magazine and adapted to selectively receive individual primers therefrom, means for supporting the primer within said holder, dispensing means including said primer support means adapted to be operatively associated with a primer arm assembly on a shell reloading press for dispensing a primer from said holder, and means for concurrently blocking communication between said magazine and said holder while a primer is being dispensed from said holder.

5. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having an open ended outer shell, support means disposed within shell for supporting a commercially pack-aged primer carton having a plurality of spaced rows of primers therein, means operatively associated with said magazine for feeding primers therefrom including means for indexing each of the plurality of spaced rows of primers in the carton relative to said outer shell, a holder operatively associated with said magazine and adapted to selectively receive individual primers therefrom, means for supporting the primer within said holder, dispensing means including said primer support means adapted to be operatively associ- 6 ated with a primer arm assembly on a shell reloading press for dispensing a primer from said holder, and means for concurrently blocking communication between said mag azine and said holder while a primer is being dispensed from said holder.

6. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having an open ended outer shell with a slot in one face thereof, support means disposed within said outer shell for supporting a commercially packaged primer carton container having a plurality of spaced rows of primers therein, means operatively associated with said magazine for feeding primers therefrom including means for progressively biasing each of the spaced rows of primers in the primer carton for the selective positioning of the individual primers therein, said means for biasing said primers including an elongated arm pivotally supported on said outer shell, means including a spring connected to one end of said arm for resiliently moving the opposite end thereof relative to said outer shell, a finger on said opposite end of said arm being directed through said outer shell slot inwardly of said magazine into substantial engagement with one row of the primers supported therein, a holder operatively associated with said magazine for selectively receiving a primer therefrom, means for supporting the primer within said holder, and means including said primer support means adapted to be operatively associated with a primer arm assembly on a shell reloading press for dispensing a primer from said holder, and means for concurrently blocking communication between said magazine and said holder while a primer is being dispensed from said holder.

7. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having means therein for dispensing a plurality of primers therefrom including means for supporting the plurality of primers at an inclination sufiicient to overcome frictional forces acting thereon, a primer holder operatively associated with said magazine and adapted to selectively receive individual primers therefrom, a primer support member slid-able in said holder for supporting a primer there-within, said support member being engageable by a primer arm assembly on the shell reloading press for dispensing a primer from said holder, and a separator plate slidrable in said holder for concurrently blocking communication between said magazine and said holder while a primer is being dispensed from said holder.

8. A primer feed mechanism for association with a shell reloading press including a magazine having an open ended outer shell, means within said shell including spring means for supporting a carton having a plurality of spaced rows of primers therewithin, a primer feeding arm pivotable on said magazine to selectively feed primers therefrom, a primer holder adjacent said magazine and adapted to receive individual primers therefrom upon pivotal movement of said arm, a primer support rod slidable in said holder for supporting a primer therewithin, said support rod having a separator plate which is slidable to and from a position blocking communication between said magazine and said holder, said support rod being engageable by a primer arm cup on the shell reloading press to effect said sliding movement of said separator plate, engagement of the primer arm cup with said support rod effecting concurrent movement of said separator plate and dispensing of a primer from said holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 605,339 Place June 7, 1898 711,231 Robinson Oct. 14, 1902 2,552,481 Eberhardt et al May 8, 1951 2,794,359 Lyman et al. June 4, 1957 2,865,244 Doyle u r Dec. 23, 1958 

1. A PRIMER FEED MECHANISM FOR ASSOCIATION WITH A SHELL RELOADING PRESS INCLUDING A MAGAZINE HAVING MEANS THEREIN FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF PRIMERS THEREFROM, A PRIMER HOLDER SLIDABLE IN SAID MAGAZINE FOR SELECTIVELY RECEIVING A PRIMER THEREFROM, A PRIMER SUPPORT ROD FOR SUPPORTING THE PRIMER WITHIN SAID HOLDER, AND A PRIMER CUP MOVABLE WITH A PRIMER ARM ASSEMBLY ON THE SHELL RELOADING PRESS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PRIMER SUPPORT ROD FOR REMOVING A PRIMER FROM SAID HOLDER, SAID PRIMER SUPPORT ROD BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HOLDER AND ADAPTED TO CONCURRENTLY PREVENT THE FLOW OF PRIMERS FROM SAID MAGAZINE TO SAID HOLDER WHILE A PRIMER IS BEING DISPENSED FROM SAID HOLDER. 